Eedris Abdulkareem Archives

PRESIDENT TINUBU'S EASTER MESSAGE TO THE NATION

SERAP Sues Tinubu’s Govt Over Ban on Eedris’ Song ‘Tell Your Papa’

Our Reporters2 months ago2 months ago010 mins

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) over “the failure to reverse the arbitrary, illegal and unconstitutional ban on Eedris Abdulkareem’s song ‘Tell Your Papa’. The song, which allegedly criticised President Bola Tinubu’s economic policies, was prohibited from radio and TV broadcast over its “objectionable nature”. The NBC cited the song’s violation of “public decency standards” on radio and TV stations. In the suit number FHC/L/CS/797/2025 filed last Thursday at the Federal High Court, Lagos, SERAP is seeking: “an order setting aside the arbitrary and illegal ban on Eedris Abdulkareem’s song ‘Tell Your Papa’, for being inconsistent and incompatible with the rights to freedom of expression, access to information, and media freedom.” SERAP is seeking: “an order of perpetual injunction restraining the NBC whether jointly or severally or any other authority, person or group of persons from preventing the airing of Eedris Abdulkareem’s song on all broadcast stations and other similar media platforms in Nigeria.” SERAP is also seeking “a declaration that the NBC’s directive, issued via a letter dated 9 April 2025 to all broadcast stations in Nigeria, banning the airing of Eedris Abdulkareem’s song is unlawful and inconsistent and incompatible with the rights to freedom of expression, access to information, and media freedom.” In the suit, SERAP is arguing that: “The NBC is censoring music under the guise of ‘protecting public decency’. Public decency is not a carte blanche for banning Eedris’ song and placing a chokehold on information and suppressing peaceful dissent.” SERAP is arguing that, “Freedom of expression constitutes one of the essential foundations of a democratic society and extends not only to information or ideas that are favourably received, but also to those that offend, shock or disturb in such domains as political discourse and commentary on public affairs.” SERAP is also arguing that, “The ban on Eedris’ song has a chilling effect on freedom of expression, access to information and media freedom. The NBC has not shown that the song would impose a specific risk of harm to a legitimate State interest that outweighs the public interest in the information provided by the song.” According to SERAP, “Section 3.1.8 of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code is overbroad and excessively intrusive, as it breaches the fundamental rights to freedom of expression, access to information and media freedom.” The suit filed on behalf of SERAP by its lawyers, Kolawole Oluwadare, Ms Oluwakemi Agunbiade and Ms Valentina Adegoke, read in part: “All persons enjoy the rights to freedom of expression and creativity and to enjoy the arts. “The ban on Eedris’ song fails to meet the requirements of legality, necessity, and proportionality. “The requirement of necessity also implies an assessment of the proportionality of the grounds, with the aim of ensuring that the excuse of ‘objectionable nature’ and ‘public decency’ are not used as a pretext to ban Eedris’ song and unduly intrude upon Nigerians’ human rights. “Expressions, whether artistic or not, always remain protected under the right to freedom of expression. The NBC directive is also inconsistent and incompatible with the right to freedom of artistic expression and creativity. “Art constitutes an important vehicle for each person, individually and in community with others, as well as groups of people, to develop and express their humanity. Artists may entertain people, but they also contribute to social debates, sometimes bringing counter-discourses and potential counterweights to existing power centres. “The vitality of artistic creativity is necessary for the functioning of democratic societies. Banning or removing creative expressions from public access is a way to restrict artistic freedom. “It is inconsistent and incompatible with the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended] and the country’s international human rights obligations to use vague and overly broad grounds of ‘objectionable nature’ and ‘public decency’ as justifications to ban Eedris’ song. “The action by the NBC is arbitrary, illegal, and unconstitutional, as it is contrary to the provisions of section 39 of the Nigerian Constitution, article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Nigeria is a state party. “Media freedom and media plurality are a central part of the effective exercise of freedom of expression. The media has a vital role to play as ‘public watchdog’ in imparting information of serious public concern and should not be inhibited or intimidated from playing that role. “While the media may be subject to some restrictions necessary for the protection of certain vital interests of the state, such as national security or public health, the media has a role and responsibility to convey information and ideas on political issues, even divisive ones and the public has a right to receive them. “Article 19(2) of International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, states that the right to freedom of expression includes the freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds ‘in the form of art’. “The effects of art censorship or unjustified restrictions of the right to freedom of artistic expression and creativity are devastating. They generate important social and economic losses, deprive artists of their means of expression and livelihood, create an unsafe environment for all those engaged in the arts and their audiences. “Restrictions of the right to freedom of artistic expression also sterilize debates on human, social and political issues and hamper the functioning of democracy. “Article 19 (1) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights establishes the right to freedom of opinion without interference. Article 19(2) establishes Nigeria’s obligations to respect ‘the right to freedom of expression,’ which includes the freedom to seek, receive and impart information, regardless of frontiers. “Under article 19(3), restrictions on the right to freedom of expression must be ‘provided by law’, and necessary ‘for respect of the rights or reputations of others’ or ‘for the protection of national security or of public order (ordre public), or of public health and morals.’” No date has been fixed for the…

Eedris Abdulkareem Raises Alarm Over N200M Bribe

Our Reporters2 months ago2 months ago02 mins

Nigerian musician Eedris Abdukareem has raised the alarm over an attempt to set him up with a N200,000million bribe following the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) ban on his single; ‘Tell Your Papa.’ Eedris, who spoke in vernacular, made this revelation in a video posted on his Instagram field on Friday. His words; “Okay, my people, how una dey? Make I give una very very quick updates. “So, I got a call from one criminal. Honourable Chisom Jabale. Him no wan make I hear the name sef and after the call, I said what’s your name again. He said Senator…I said Ole leleyi (This one is a thief). “So, the idiot was now telling me that he was in a meeting with Seyi (Tinubu) and this government, that they are trying to bribe you. Don’t listen to them. “We are going to be sponsoring you underground and I said who told you that I need anything. (sic). Immediately, I heard his voice, I said this one nah them send am. I said I’m not interested. He said we would give you 200million and I said the video wey I shoot, nah you sponsor me underground? “I say make una go sidon somewhere. I’m not inetersted. Wetin dey worry una nah? “So, I knew he was sent. Awon Ole buruku (Thieves). Nah me una wan record take do caricature. I don prepare for una tey tey.”

MRA Condemns NBC’s Ban on Eedris Abdulkareem’s Song ‘Tell Your Papa’

Our Reporters2 months ago2 months ago06 mins

Media Rights Agenda (MRA) has condemned the directive issued by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to radio and television stations across the country not to broadcast the song “Tell Your Papa” by Nigerian rapper Eedris Abdulkareem, describing it a blatant abuse of regulatory power, a violation of constitutional rights, and a dangerous affront to freedom of expression. The NBC issued a directive dated April 9, 2025 through its Coordinating Director of Broadcast Monitoring, Ms Susan Obi, titled “Restriction on broadcasting ‘Tell Your Papa’ by Eedris Abdulkareem” and addressed to all broadcast stations, asking them to refrain from airing the song as its content is deemed inappropriate for broadcast due to its alleged objectionable nature. The Commission claimed that the song “is, therefore, classified as Not To Be Broadcast (NTBB), as it violates Section 3.1.8 of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code.” However, in a statement issued in Lagos by its Programme Officer, Ms Ayomide Eweje, MRA described Section 3.1.8 of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code” as nebulous, observing that the provision merely states that “A programme or musical content classified as ‘Not To Be Broadcast’ (NTBB) shall not be broadcast” without stating any basis for such classification, what kind of content qualifies for not to be broadcast status or under what circumstances a programme or musical content can be classified as NTBB. She described this provision of the Code as a recipe for arbitrariness and the directive as a misuse of regulatory authority and powers, saying that the NBC has completely confused its role as a supposedly independent media regulatory body with that of a propaganda agency charged with shielding the government from criticism or embarrassment. Ms Eweje said: “The NBC’s decision to ban the airing of a socially and politically conscious song without a clear legal basis or due process amounts to censorship. It is a clear attempt to stifle artistic expression and silence dissenting voices, both of which are fundamental elements of a democratic society. Such actions violate Section 39 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which guarantees the right to freedom of expression, and undermine Nigeria’s obligations under international human rights instruments, including Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, both of which are binding on Nigeria.” She argued that artists have the right and freedom to use their platforms to critique governance and criticize governments, raise awareness, and reflect public sentiment and that the NBC, as a regulatory body, must act within the bounds of the law and not serve as a tool for suppressing uncomfortable truths or politically charged content that challenges the status quo. Ms Eweje called on the Commission to immediately rescind the ban on “Tell Your Papa” and refrain from arbitrary actions that erode public trust in it; infringe on the constitutional rights of Nigerians “to receive and impart ideas and information without interference”; and shrink the civic space, adding “We also urge all stakeholders in the media and creative sectors, as well as civil society, to resist any attempt to muzzle freedom of expression under the guise of regulation.” She stressed that MRA remained committed to defending the rights of all Nigerians, including, journalists, artists, academics and other citizens, to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, without fear of censorship, repression or reprisals.

Eedris’ Song: Tinubu Gets 48 hours Ultimatum to Reverse Ban

Our Reporters2 months ago2 months ago02 mins

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has handed the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) 48 hours ultimatum to reverse the ban on the single track of Nigerian musician Eedris Abdulkareeem. The National Broadcasting Commission had on April 9 issued a memo declaring that the track ‘Tell Your Papa’ not to be aired on all television and radio stations in the country. The Commission cited Section 3.1.8 of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code for its action, saying the track content is deemed inappropriate, offensive, or in breach of public decency from being aired on Nigerian broadcast platforms. In a post on Twitter now X, SERAP, however, has threatened to institute a court process should the Commission refuse to reverse the ban after 48 hours. “The Tinubu administration must immediately reverse the unlawful ban by the National Broadcasting Commission stopping Nigerian radio and TV stations from airing Eedris Abdulkareem’s new single. “We’ll see in court if the ban is not reversed within 48 hours,” SERAP stated.

Eedris Abdulkareem’s song ‘Tell Your Papa’ Banned from Radio, TV

Our Reporters2 months ago2 months ago04 mins

The National Broadcasting Commission has barred Nigerian radio and television stations from airing the trending song “Tell Your Papa” by veteran rapper, Eedris Abdulkareem, citing its “objectionable nature.” In a memo dated April 9, 2025 and issued by the Coordinating Director of Broadcast Monitoring, Susan Obi, the commission declared the track Not To Be Broadcast (NTBB) under Section 3.1.8 of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code. This section prohibits content deemed inappropriate, offensive, or in breach of public decency from being aired on Nigerian broadcast platforms. According to the NBC, while the song has gained momentum across social media platforms, its lyrical content fails to meet the standards of responsible broadcasting. The statement titled, “Restriction on boradcasting ‘Tell Your Papa’ by Eedris Abdulkareem,’ read, “The National Broadcasting Commission has identified the song ‘Tell Your Papa’ by Eedris Abdulkareem, currently trending on social media, as content deemed inappropriate for broadcast due to its objectionable nature. ” It is therefore classified as Not To Be Broadcast (NTBB), as it violates Section 3.1.8 of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code. “The commission requests that your station exercises discretion and refrains from airing this song to maintain responsible broadcasting standards. “Your cooperation and commitment to upholding greatly appreciated. Thank you, Susan Obi -Coordinating Director, Broadcast Monitoring.” The controversial song, released earlier this week, targets Seyi Tinubu, son of President Bola Tinubu, calling on him to confront his father over the worsening socio-economic conditions in Nigeria. In the track titled “Tell Your Papa,” which was shared on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday, Abdulkareem delivered a blunt message, painting a grim picture of the hardships facing everyday Nigerians. The song comes in response to Seyi Tinubu’s recent comments in Adamawa State, where he described his father as “the greatest president in Nigeria’s history.” In the hard-hitting lyrics, Abdulkareem raps, “Seyi, tell your papa country hard. Tell your papa people dey die. Tell your papa this one don pass jagajaga.” “Seyi, how far? I swear your papa no try. Too much empty promises. On behalf of Nigerians, take our message to him; kidnappers dey kill Nigerians. “Seyi, try travel by road without your security make you feel the pains of fellow Nigerians. You dey fly private jets, insecurity no be your problem.”